‘Social Media Revolutionizing Africa: How is new media changing Africa, giving voices to the voiceless,
improving governance and transparency, and changing narratives?’
People in Africa prefer to talk not write
Can’t resolve all of Africa’s issues with one approach
Develop things with Africans
Market can’t do it on its own
Social media only breaks news and ‘it won’t make the history books until CNN or BBC report on it’
Social media gives African youth an uncensored worldwide platform, letting them feel included
in shaping Africa’s image
Get away from the vision of ‘poor Africa’
Problems can’t be solved by the same people who created them
Social media is not about the technology, it’s about the human need to communicate
New technologies can impact on public debate, people’s political capabilities, citizen-state relations,
relationships with other government actors
Youth can have a big impact on community development if given space to influence